Oh my!

Today was Alan's birthday. I went out tonight to finally discard our ancient
kitchen trashcan by the dumpster. I spotted a huge bag of stuffed animals
behind the dumpster, so I brought it in to check it out. Some of it was
junk - birthday cards, crayons, girl toys, toys with missing or broken
parts - but we got 5 or so large stuffed animals (including a dog that takes
batteries, but it didn't work), quite a few happy meal toys: Mr. Incredible,
a few "the cat" or "the dogs" one yellow bug from lion king, and one of the
activision games as well as 2 neopets. We also found a buzz lightyear (sans
helmet) and a Mike the monster (the green one). There might have been a few
more things but I couldn't identify them. I also found extra post it notes
and a perfectly good mechanical pencil. So I went to take it back out and
found a few books on the ground also: Barney, an old nickelodeon show golden
book, and 2 Sid Hoff books. (There was a bible and santa claus book also -
no use for those). My best guess is that the toys etc belonged to the
visiting granddaughter of a couple in our building - perhaps mom tossed them
out here, so she wouldn't find them, or the grandparents were condo
cleaning. It was strange to see it all tossed out though.

Toy Reviews!

My MIL got the Hot Wheels Roll Up Raceway for Alan's birthday:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B00062J9CM/qid%3D1129422910/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-8846134-0607866

He loves it. Once I figured out how to use it myself, I showed Alan and he
can shoot the cars down the raceway all by himself. And when we are done, it
will roll up into a little piece, only slightly bigger than 2 of the cars.

He also got this Thomas toy - the Load N'Go:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B0007YDBGE//103-8846134-0607866

He took to that at once, and wouldn't let go of it! One drawback, the little
ramp/door that attaches to the trailer comes off - so keep an eye on it.

Jello Aquarium (edible)

JELL-O AQUARIUM
Recipe by Clare Crespo

Ingredients

1 half-gallon glass fish bowl
2 6-oz. boxes Berry Blue Jell-O gelatin
1 can (11-oz.) fruit cocktail
2 gummy fish (or plastic fish)
1 plastic aquarium plant (optional)

What To Do

1. Make the Jell-O gelatin according to directions on the box. Pour into goldfish bowl.

2. Drain the fruit cocktail and slowly pour it into the goldfish bowl. It will sink to the bottom to act as the "gravel."

3. Place gelatin in the refrigerator to thicken for about one hour. Don't let it set completely.

4. Remove from the refrigerator and place the gummy (or plastic) fish in the Jell-O gelatin, using a chopstick, knife, or the back of a spoon to push the fish toward the bottom of the goldfish bowl.

5. Return the gelatin to the refrigerator to set completely.

6. When the gelatin has set and is ready to serve, use a spoon to scoop it and the fish out. If you are using plastic fish, be sure to set them aside.